Who Is George, And Why Is Culver's Chili Named After Him?
Half the fun of being a chili aficionado is the painstaking, yet deeply satisfying, process of developing your own recipe. While some of us never stop noodling with it, others are fortunate enough to finally arrive at a chili good enough to stand the test of time. Such is the case with the "George's Chili" served up at Culver's, which was created by one of the Midwestern fast food chain's founders and is named in his honor.
George's Chili preceded the birth of the Culver's franchise itself. Husband and wife George and Ruth Culver — parents of future Culver's CEO Craig Culver — opened their first restaurant in 1961, over 20 years before the unveiling of the first Culver's location in Sauk City, Wisconsin. It was in the kitchen of this inaugural establishment where George would perfect his signature chili recipe. Culver's describes George's Chili as "medium-spicy," and made with simmered homestyle beef, dark red kidney beans, diced tomatoes, onions, peppers, and celery. The chili is seasoned with a blend of spices that remains a Culver's secret to this day, though speculative (and therefore possibly inaccurate) copycat recipes include spices such as cumin, coriander, oregano, chili powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
George's chili became a permanent menu item at Culver's, thanks to never cutting corners on quality
Originally, George Culver's hearty, warming chili was only served during the winter months (an understandable choice, as you'll appreciate after sampling any of these 16 delicious chili recipes to keep you warm this winter), but it would eventually become a permanent fixture of the Culver's menu as the franchise expanded and chili grew in popularity. One reason why the chili had remained such a well-regarded mainstay may be because George made it a priority to never cut corners on quality – a rule Culver's continually aims to abide by.
Despite Culver's shifting ownership and no longer being entirely a family business, George's Chili endures. Today, Culver's patrons can order the chili either ungarnished or "Supreme" style, which comes topped with cheese, onion, and sour cream. George's Chili also features on Culver's Chili Cheddar Fries, wherein crinkle-cut fries are slathered with chili and a cheese sauce made from real Wisconsin cheddar, and as part of a secret menu option that combines the Supreme-style chili with pickled jalapeños and Wisconsin Cheese Curds. If these prospects already have you hungering, make sure you check out these five ordering tips to make the most out of Culver's chili.